Pictured (l-r):Keith Thompson, CEO, Cell Therapy Catapult Martino Picardo, CEO, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst Dr Nicole Mather, Director, Office for Life Sciences, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Department of Health Jan Thirkettle, VP, Cell and Gene Therapy Platform – GSK Stephen Ward, COO, Cell Therapy Catapult John Brown, Chair, Cell Therapy Catapult

Turf Cut on Cell Therapy Catapult’s £55 Million Manufacturing Centre

Jan 26 2016

The Cell Therapy Catapult celebrated the beginnings of its new cell and gene therapy manufacturing centre, when its chairman John Brown led the first turf cutting at an event on site during November. Dedicated to the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation, the new manufacturing centre will also provide support to the international cell and gene therapy sectors. The event was attended by representatives from academic, healthcare, regulatory and industry groups across the advanced therapy sectors.

Due for completion in 2017 at its Stevenage-based 7,200m2 site, it is close to London Heathrow international airlinks enabling time critical transport of the cells of patients to and from the developer facility.

Innovate UK committed £55 million to the Cell Therapy Catapult which is expected to directly create up to 150 specialist jobs, along with more as the cluster around it grows. Most importantly it will speed up the developments of critically needed treatments for patients in the UK and internationally.

“The Cell Therapy Catapult cell and gene therapy manufacturing centre will be the world’s first facility of its kind. I am very proud that it will be built in the UK,” said George Freeman, MP, UK Government Minister for Life Sciences. “The UK is at the leading edge of the cell and gene therapy industry, with a disproportionate share of both world leading scientists and new developments in the field. It will also contribute to considerable additional inward investment to the UK.”

Cell Therapy Catapult CEO Keith Thompson added: “Manufacturing continues to involve significant international logistical and regulatory challenges to the development of cell therapies. The manufacturing centre will be a game changer for the UK cell therapy industry, as well as the future international availability of therapies for patients. Both UK and international companies will now be able to plan and spread costs via economies of scale for their manufacturing for clinical trials for the UK, European and global markets.”